Planned Obsolescence
"Planned obsolescence" is an economic term that applies to goods. Most items are manufactured with a planned life-cycle so that consumers will have to buy new ones as old ones wear out. It is for this reason that light bulbs burn out, that refigerators eventually quit, that cars break down over time. Collectively, we have accepted the necessity of throwing away "junk" and buying replacements.
However, the principle of planned obsolescence does not truly apply to jewelry. Most items of gold, precious metal or other valuable materials are not created with the intent that they will gradually break down. And yet, jewelry does break. Clasps wear out, fittings erode, pieces become dented or disjointed.
Throwing away broken jewelry, however, is literally throwing away money. A vastly better alternative is to sell such items to an online purchaser. For example, visit www.cashformyoldgold.com. Order a free kit ("gold pack") and send in your gold, precious metal or jewelry with a completed application. Within days you will receive a check. You can even choose to buy new jewelry with your proceeds!